Click on title to view the full article:

May 2007

The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) announces its first major project

The Investment Climate Facility (ICF), a unique fund conceived to help Africa create a more attractive business environment, is delighted to announce the launch of its first major project.

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa, Co-chair of the ICF and former President of Tanzania, will launch the Rwanda Investment Climate Project (RICP) during the 4th International Investment Conference in Kigali today. The Rwandan Minister of Finance, Hon. James Musoni, will sign the RICP agreement with the ICF on behalf of the Government of Rwanda.

The RICP, co-funded by the Government of Rwanda and the ICF, is a major initiative to improve the business environment in Rwanda. It will have three major components. Firstly, it will assist the Government of Rwanda in establishing a Commercial Court and a system to resolve commercial disputes speedily and effectively; secondly, the project will create a new Rwanda Commercial Registration Services Agency. This agency will provide a comprehensive registration system that will improve company and small business registration, securitisation of movable assets and registration of intellectual property rights. Finally, the project will assist Rwanda with improving its land titling and registration system, particularly in Kigali.

Rwandan president, His Excellency Paul Kagame, said the RICP would provide valuable momentum to his administration's push to spur growth in the Rwandan economy. "We are pleased that the ICF has agreed to support Rwanda’s drive to improve our investment climate through the RICP initiative. I am confident that our cooperation with the ICF will be a major driver of investment in Rwanda’s economy, complementing our efforts to develop key legal and commercial services and having a positive impact on the lives of all Rwandans."

Commenting on the launch of the RICP today, His Excellency, Benjamin Mkapa said “The Rwanda Investment Climate Project makes it easier to do business in Rwanda. The project gives foreign and domestic investors the confidence to commit to development in Africa, creating employment and income opportunities for Rwandans.  The programme provides the financial sector with the security and assurances they need to provide services to companies and individuals who want to grow their businesses and invest in property. We are delighted to assist Rwanda in this way, and commend President Paul Kagame and his government on their commitment to making Rwanda an African success story”.

March 2007

13 March 2007: The ICF announces the appointment of Omari Issa as CEO and identifies key themes to guide project development in the initial phase of operations

Today the ICF announced new coporate investors Celtel, Microsoft, Standard Bank and Sasol.

1 June 2006: Formal launch of the ICF at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town  

Early endorsements of the ICF

 

 

10 October 2006: The CDG on possible US support for ICF

In August 2006 the Centre for Global Development posed the question: Africa’s Investment Climate Facility: Does it deserve US support?  The article, written by Todd Moss and Sarah Rose, outlined what it sees as the ICF’s key strengths, and raised a number of questions for clarification.  It concluded that the United States should increase its assistance toward improving the business environment in sub-Saharan Africa, and should seriously consider contributing to the ICF, if the questions raised by the article are answered convincingly and comprehensively. The full text of the article can be downloaded here.

Niall FitzGerald, co-chair and chairman of the ICF Board, enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to engage with the CDG on this issue, and to provide comprehensive answers to the questions posed.  Read his response here.  In today’s CDG’s blog entry, Todd Moss responds to Niall FitzGerald, and notes in particular the ICF’s commitment to independent evaluation of its activities.  Read Todd’s blog entry here, or visit http://blogs.cgdev.org/globaldevelopment/2006/10/investment_climate_facility_fo.php to see the articles in their original context.

5 October 2006: Africa Investment Climate Conference and Africa Investment Awards

In early October Corin Mitchell, of the ICF Executive Secretariat, attended the Africa Investment Climate Conference and Africa Investment Awards, in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.  The event looked at the broader investment climate in Africa, with a focus on examining some of the bottlenecks that discourage investment in the continent, and developing solutions and recommendations on steps for Africa to take to stimulate sustainable investment. More information about the conference, including Corin Mitchell’s presentation on the ICF, can be accessed on the Africagrowth Research website - http://www.africagrowth.com/

July-August 2006: Sunny outlook for business climate

Africa Investor hears from Michael Klein and Baroness Valerie Amos about the ICF.

Archives: June 2006

The ICF was formally launched at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town on 1 June 2006.  See below for selected news coverage of the event:

Archives: May 2006

 

Contact Us
Address: 2nd Floor, 50 Mirambo Street, P.O. Box 9114 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255 22 212 9211 | Fax: +255 22 212 9210 | Email for information: info@icfafrica.org
Email for projects: projects@icfafrica.org

:: Home | About Us | Supporters | FAQ | Media | Opportunites ::

All Rights Reserved Investment Climate Facility 2007 | Designed and Powered By JD Internet Consulting